These Are The Most Ridiculously Overpriced Vehicles On The Market Right Now

Modern Auto 1/29/24

All cars are worth way more than the materials or components that are needed to make them. It's because a lot of research, development, and testing goes into making a car - and part of that cost is included in the MSRP of every unit.

However, some cars cost insanely more than they are worth, and are sold at a price that cannot be justified by any means. While sometimes it may happen due to the brand name, other times it's just the market demand that makes a car cost more than what it's worth. These are the most overpriced cars that are on the market right now.

Nissan GT-R Nismo - A Street-Legal Track Car

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If you think the Japanese only make reliable family and work vehicles, check out the GT-R. This thing has a 600hp engine and does 0-60 in 2.4 seconds. Cool stuff, huh? How about a starting price of $210,000 even before the body paint of your choice? The car is loaded with tech and is a marvel of engineering but again, $210,000!

Part of the reason this car is so expensive is that the 3.8L V6 is made by hand and there are only four Takumi Craftsmen in the entire world who can make these engines. With all due respect to these master craftsmen, I'd rather buy a car made by robots that don't cost me my inheritance.

Corvette C8 - Putting the Engine in the Middle Costs Too Much

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C8 Corvette was a breakthrough in Corvettes when it came out. For the first time the screaming V8 is placed behind the driver in a car and that does make a difference - but not a $90,000 difference. Even though the MSRP on this car starts at a 'humble' $60,000, if you equip it to the specs that make it a real supercar, you'll end up paying upwards of 90 grand.

You know a car is overpriced when a body color alone (red mist metallic) costs you $995. The car is pretty capable and there is no turbo lag like all those fancy twin-turbo V6s but the price is a bit too steep.

Toyota Mirai - Hydrogen Isn't The Future

Toyota's Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Mirai Test Drive

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The name Mirai, in Japanese, means the future - but the reality begs to differ. The Mirai costs $52,424 new. That's just the tip of the iceberg. This thing runs on a hydrogen fuel cell. If you calculate the fuel costs of running the Mirai, it comes out to be $3 per mile. An average car costs you 40 cents a mile to own and maintain.

Toyota has only managed to sell just 6,500 of these cars in the US, 3,500 in Japan, and just 640 in all of Europe, even though they are giving $15,000 worth of free refuelings for every purchase.

Doing wheelies in a stock car can be expensive. Right?

Tesla Model X - Are the Batteries That Expensive?

Exhibition of Tesla Model X during the Turin Motor Show 2018...

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Sure the Model X is loaded with all the cool tech and the latest advancements in EV technology but isn't $80,000 too much for an SUV? If you opt for the performance trim, you'll end up paying a hundred grand for the car.

The reason why this car is so overpriced is because of the hype about Tesla. That's a bit ironic keeping in mind that the company has a zero-dollar advertisement budget. But it seems like if you have the world's richest man as your walking advertisement and you are making fewer cars than people are demanding, you can charge them top dollar for every unit.

Dodge Demon - The 6-Figure Charger

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV Dodge Demon Reveal Ahead Of The 2017 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS)

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How cool is a car that can do a wheelie right outside the showroom? Pretty cool huh? But is that $100,000 before optional extras cool? That's the Dodge Demon! The car comes with an insane 840hp engine and is the quickest (non-electric) production car in 0-60 time but the price is too much even for that.

Under the skin, it is still a Dodge Charger and those things are on sale for a third of the figure the Detroit boys are quoting for this angry Demon straight out of hell. Unless you drag race for pink slips every Saturday, this car is overpriced.

Acura NSX - Technology is Expesive

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We all know Honda for the Accords and Civics but they also have a branch dedicated to making the sickest sports cars. The NSX is an insane sports car that was developed under the guidance of Ayrton Senna, the most decorated F1 driver of all time.

The 573-hp hybrid powertrain of this car does 0-60 in three seconds flat and it has all the technological advancements that you can ask for. But the price tag comes in at $157,000 for a brand new NSX before any optional extras. The numbers are impressive and the car is great but the price is too much, especially when it is a Honda at its core.

Toyota Century - The Most Expensive a Toyota Can Get

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A car with similar specs and price from Rolls Royce or Bentley would not have made this list but this is a Toyota. A Toyota that will cost you a quarter-million dollars of your hard-earned money. Don't get me wrong, this car has all that you'd expect from a car with such a ridiculous price tag - but it is still a Toyota.

When you pay that kind of money for a car, you are not buying just what the car offers; you are buying a name. And that name is Toyota.

Toyota can sometimes decrease the capabilities of a car and increase the price. Read on to learn more!

Ford GT Liquid Carbon - A Fancy Name Costs so Much

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The Ford GT is one of the most iconic cars to ever be, period. However, the $750,000 price tag on the liquid carbon is too much. The car does have cool paint on it and the 3.5-L 660hp twin-turbo V6 is cool and all, but three-quarters of a million dollars can also be spent on an incredible home.

Even after paying that much money, the GT is a car that getting in and out of becomes a chore on its own. Even if you don't consider that to be a valid objection because supercars are meant to be that way, you cannot defend the $750,000 price tag.

Ram 1500 Ecodiesel - Getting Emissions in Line is Expensive

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If you want all that sweet diesel torque from your Dodge Ram 1500, prepare to pay $41,990 and $1,700 to be delivered. 4WD is another option that will set you back $3,000 or more. All in all, you are paying a shade under 47 grand for a RAM 1500. I don't know about you, but to me, that does not seem like a bargain.

You can say that the F150 is so expensive due to the batteries and electric motor it comes with, but the 3.0L V6 in the Ram 1500, despite its 480 lb-ft torque, is not worth a 50 grand price tag, or is it?

Toyota Tacoma - Toyotas Aren't Meant to be Expensive

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While the $26,400 starting price for the base model Tacoma is still above average in its class, the TRD Pro model of the same truck starts at a whopping $44,075, without optional extras of course. Meant to be a tough Japanese workhorse and the successor to the famed Hilux, the Tacoma is anything but economical.

Part of the reason Toyota asks for top dollar prices on these trucks is that these vehicles last. The reliability of Toyota vehicles is what keeps people paying so much for them. If you don't mind maintenance costs or just want a truck for a short period of time, you'll be wasting your money buying a Tacoma.

BMW Alpina B7 - What did Alpina Add?

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BMW is known for making some of the most reasonably priced German cars but this one is not that. This full-size luxury sedan from BMW is anything but reasonably priced. Powered by a 600hp V8, this car starts at a whopping $143,200. It sure gets you all the things you can or cannot expect with such an MSRP, but THE MSRP!

The car on which the B7 is based on is the BMW 750i and that car is worth just $80,000. Alpina did add a lot of good stuff to make the 750i into a B7, but is it really worth as much as the car itself?

Lexus LS 570 - It's Just a Land Cruiser!

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The Land Cruiser itself, at a starting price of $85,000, is a pretty overpriced car especially considering that it comes from Toyota - but the Lexus takes the game to the next level. A reasonably equipped LS 570 will set you back $130,000.

This Lexus does offer a bunch of luxury items on the inside but it is largely a primitive SUV. Plus, in the process of making it a Lexus, Toyota has taken away many of the off-road capabilities that the Land Cruiser has. If the capability is the thing that you want from an SUV, why exactly do you have to pay more for a car with a lower maximum angle of attack than the one it's derived from?

BMW i8 Roadster - What Does it Offer?

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Paying $143,000 for a car that cannot make even 400hp is overpriced by any standard. I mean how would you face the world knowing that you bought a car worth $140,000 that has a 3-cylinder 228hp engine and some electric motors that struggle to put out a measly 141hp on a good day?

This car does look cool, there's no doubt in that at all - but there's more to cars than the way they look, and that is where the i8 struggles to make a name. Unless you don't mind having a 369hp car for that kind of money, the i8 is not worth most of the pennies it costs.

Ferraris are supposed to be expensive but...

Maybach S650 - Luxurious, Sure!

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Coming in at around a quarter of a million dollars, the S650 Maybach is one of the most expensive Mercedes models. The car has it all, there's no denying that. From a 621hp 6.0L V12 to the nicest materials any car's interior can have, it lacks nothing.

However, the price tag is still insane, to say the least. These V12s are just too complicated to be reliable and maintenance is anything but cheap. Well, cheap is not a word in the vocabulary of someone buying a Maybach, but the price tag is still not justifiable.

Merc AMG S65 Cabriolet - German Luxury at the Premium Price

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If you think the Maybach S650, a full-size sedan that seats four in luxury is overpriced, how about this one? it has the same 6.0L V12 but is practically a 2-seater. The rear seats are not meant for any adult of reasonable size. So there goes practicality, especially when the trunk is replaced by the folding roof.

The $253,000 MSRP of this car just does not make sense, even with all that performance and the magnificent Mercedes name. Even if you don't have more than one friend to take on a road trip and trunk space is not a problem for you, this car is still overpriced.

Ferrari Monza SP2 - The Seven-Figure Ferrari

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Powered by a 6.5L V12 that puts out 809hp enabling this car to do 0-60 in 2.9 seconds, this Ferrari is the dream of any petrolhead. While it has all the specs and the name Ferrari (which can justify any price) it has a price tag unfathomable for the average consumer.

If you want to make this car yours, be ready to spare, not a $100K, not a million, but $2 million dollars. That's 5 Bentley Continental Flying Spurs which itself has a place on this list. So unless you are related to the Carnegies or Rothschilds, this car is overpriced.

Maserati GranTurismo - Straight Outta 2007

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Yes, Maserati is a premium brand, and when you buy one, you are also paying for the exclusivity that's associated with the brand. But is it wise to pay $149,000 for a car that practically has a 2007 design? The dashboard in this car feels primitive and the whole design screams the early 2000s.

It does not end there. The car is horribly unreliable too. When you pay that much for a car, you expect it to be as reliable as it can get and never break down but that is not what you get with this car. Unless you are just into looking rich, this car simply costs way more than it's worth.

Jeep Wrangler 392 - Good But Not $74K Good

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The regular Jeep Wrangler 5-door with its $31,975 price tag is a great deal, but you cannot justify the $74,975 price tag for the 392. It is the most potent Jeep to ever be and is a capable off-roader (no doubt in that) but the better half of $100K for a mid-size SUV is not worth it on general principle.

Jeeps are only known for their off-road capability and if that's what you want, you can buy an old Land Cruiser for half the price and with double the capability. Moreover, reliability will not be an issue because it is a Toyota.

You can name a car after your dad and charge top dollar for it. That car is coming up.

Ford F150 Electric - EVs are Getting Out of Hand

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If you think the $100,000 Tesla Model X is expensive with its 1020hp drivetrain, what would you say about the Ford F150 Electric with 426 horsepower that starts at $45,000? The very ideology behind Ford was to make cars affordable for the masses and this price tag might have made Mr. Henry Ford himself a little uncomfortable.

If you think the F150 electric is not expensive or overpriced, consider this; the regular F150 starts at $29,290, a full $16,000 below the starting price of the electric variant. It seems like Ford put a lot of money to develop all the motors and batteries and the cost is being passed on to the consumer.

Nissan Leaf - Not Much Value

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Even though the $31,360 price tag puts the Leaf below the average asking price of EVs in the US market, it is still an overpriced car. You do get a 200hp drivetrain and a 62kWh battery but all that stuff is only impressive on paper.

The rate at which the battery degrades, high maintenance cost, costly battery replacement, a boring design, and the notoriously unreliable reputation of this car make it overpriced even though it's a cheap car. The way this car devalues, it will be worth no more than $20,000 in a few months. The average second-hand price for this car in the US is $13,000.

Pagani Huayra - Performance is Expensive

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We know it has a big honking V12 under the hood and has more than 800 horsepower and puts out some of the most insane performance stats, but the price tag is just astronomical. The starting price on one of these is 2.4 million dollars but with under 200 examples made, these things trade for more than 5 million dollars apiece.

That kind of price tag cannot be justified by any car unless it is made from solid gold. The reason behind this car costing so much is mainly the exclusivity and the feeling that not many people in the world have the car that you have.

Bugatti Centodieci - The Most Expensive Anniversary Edition

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If you think the Huayra with its $2.4 million asking price is an overpriced car, this one will blow your mind clean off. The asking price on one of the 10 Bugatti Centodiecci hypercars is $9 million. Yes, a nine followed by six zeros.

This car has the same 8.0L 1500hp W16 motor and is based on the same platform as the $2.9 million Chiron. In essence, the Centodeici is just has a $6 million body kit and head and tail lights slapped onto the good old Chiron. Another thing, $9 million is just the asking price, and to actually buy one, you'll be bidding against some of the wealthiest people on the planet. So even if you sell your entire neighborhood and come up with $9 million, your chances of getting behind the steering wheel of one of these are still bleak.

Koenigsegg Jesko - Carbon Fiber is Expensive

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Sweden was known for cold weather until Christian von Koenigsegg decided to delete the camshafts and invent a thing called free valve technology. He then went on to put a 5.0L Camless V8 under the hood of a car named after his father, Jesko, and slapped a $2.8 million sticker to the window.

The car has the performance stats that you'd expect of any $2.8 million car and only 125 were made. If the rumors of one of them being destroyed on the Nurburgring are true, the world only has 124 of these now, and getting one even for the $2.8 million price tag is not easy.

Lots of power costs lots of money...

Rimac Nevera - The Price Might be Justified

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This one is not on the market yet but Rimac is taking orders for it and you can book yours by paying just $2.42 million upfront. The name Nevera means a violent thunderstorm and the car lives up to that name.

This car comes in first in every performance metric there is. It does the standing quarter-mile in 8.85 seconds and smashes Ferraris and Bugattis while it's at it. It is powered by a set of four motors that provides just under 2,000hp combined. It also has the biggest carbon fiber monocoque in the world. Nevera is impressive but four motors and 2,100 kg of carbon and steel ain't worth $2.4 million.

Bentley Continental Flying Spur - Luxury Costs a Lot

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No flying spur in the world is worth $212,000 stock, excepts for the ones with Bentley as the first name. This car is most definitely an example of luxury. The cabin was so quiet in the earlier iterations that they had to take some of the sound deadening material off to avoid sensory deprivation.

Powered by a 48-valve W12, this car has it all but then there's the price. It might not be a big deal for the people who already have four Rolls Royce and a bunch of Ferraris but for an average American, this thing is just too expensive.

Bugatti La Voiture Noire - This is Insane

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This car looks sick, you can't deny that. Based on the $2.9 million Chiron, this car is the most expensive car ever made by Bugatti. Bugatti priced each of the 10 units of this gorgeous machine at $13.4 million. But because only 10 were made and because the richest car collectors were bidding for these, there are confirmed reports of one of these being sold for more than $18 million.

I don't know about you but when I lay down on my bed tonight, I'll dedicate some time to try and contemplate what can make a car worth half the cost of a city.

Maserati MC20 - The Italian Hypercar

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This car does not have an insane price tag, especially seeing what it offers. The 3.0L 621hp engine, the 0-60 time of 2.9 seconds, and the Maserati name do make it worth the $220,000 price tag. However, the trouble starts with it being a Maserati.

We all know that even the mass production Maserati models are notorious for being unreliable and prone to frequent breakdowns. So how about a Maserati that is being made in even lower numbers? If anything does go wrong with your Maserati hypercar, the repair bill will be astronomical.

McLaren 765LT - The British Hypercar

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McLaren has given us some incredibly unique cars like the F1 and P1. This is the 765LT, a limited production model. Only 765 units of this 755hp car will be made over the production run of 18 months. The base price on one of these before options and taxes is $350,000.

That sort of money for a car that you can drive only on a track and has no practical use at all might not be much for enthusiasts but for an average car buyer, it's over the top. I mean, if I pay $350,000 for a car I'd expect it have to a reasonable trunk at least.

The "Sixth Element" is expensive

Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio - Stellantis is on Fire

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While the base model Stelvio starts at $41,000, the Quadrifoglio will set you back $81,000-- that's without optional extras. If you configure this car to have all that you want, the price is going to go up and it's going to go up by a good bit.

Sure, the Quadrifoglio offers all the luxury features that you expect when you pay that kind of money for a compact SUV. However, you still get the same suspension and other mechanical features. And to the untrained eye, you are still riding a $41,000 car. If you think the nicer materials and a more powerful engine are worth two of the base models, Stellantis will be happy to oblige you.

Lamborghini Sesto Elemento - The Sixth Element Car

Lamborghini showcases the world's most expensive car - Lamborghini

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The Italian automaker Lamborghini almost always names its cars after famous Italian bulls, but this time they named it after the thing it's made of. Sesto Elemento translates to 'sixth element' (carbon) and the car is made almost entirely of it.

Only 20 of these cars were ever made and the asking price for a unit was set at $1.8 million. However, none of these has traded for under $2.2 million, according to reports. Thanks to the use of Sesto Elemento, this car weighs in at just 999 kg including the 570hp V10 and transmission.

LaFerrari FXX K Evo - Not Even Road Legal

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If you have $2.2 million burning a hole in your pocket and you don't plan to drive your car on a road, this Ferrari is what you can waste your money on. The hybrid powertrain puts out 1,036 horsepower and the shifts are done in milliseconds by a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.

It is a Ferrari and Ferraris are meant to be expensive, we all know that. However $2.2 million is not expensive, it's not even outrageous. It is an insane cost for a car, no matter how good it is. Let alone the one that you can't drive to the local grocery store.

Lamborghini Sian - Unmistakably Iconic

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The Sian's got the looks, you can give it that. It also has an insanely powerful 6.5L V12 which is coupled with an iconic ISR 7-speed gearbox capable of shifting in just 25 milliseconds. But when you take a look at the window stickers of these things, you just can't believe your eyes.

Part of the reason this car is so insanely expensive is that only 63 units have been made so far and Lambo has proposed an MSRP of $3.7 million on a unit. But considering the rarity of this model, you can expect these to go for much more than that.

Maserati Quattroporte - Too Old

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A Maserati cannot be overpriced at just $104,000 for the base model but what if it is still the one that came out in 2013? The Quattroporte has not seen any significant upgrade since 2013 and the engine is also not the most powerful one.

The V6 manages 424hp but if you have a look at the offerings from Mercedes in the same price brackets, those things have over 600hp. The interior is still out of the 2010s and the exterior also has a dated design. These things are notorious for depreciating quickly. While old Quattroportes with low mileage are the best way to get into the luxury sedan section, new ones are way overpriced.

Maserati Ghibli - Overpriced in Every Possible Way

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If you see the $74,000 price tag on a Maserati Ghibli, it does not feel overpriced but that's only until you buy the car. Inside the car, the build quality and materials used are anything but fitting for a $74K Italian exotic.

Even if you can live with that, the quality assurance standards of Maserati are not the best ones, to say the least. It will need more maintenance in 20,000 miles than a Dodge Dart does in 100,000 miles. Want to sell it off because it's too expensive to own and maintain? Be ready for 75% depreciation in a couple of years.

Would you pay $25,000 for a boring car that cannot haul your friends or luggage?

BMW M4 Competition - A Six-Figure M4

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Based on the same M4 that costs a shade over $30,000 and using the same straight-six from the new Supra, the M4 Competition costs $74,000 for the base model and if you reasonably equip it with the optional extras, it will set you back $100,000.

It is true that the Competiton trim adds a number of performance upgrades to the car, a price tag nearly three times that of the model it's based on cannot be justified. Add to that the unreliable nature of BMWs and you have one of the most overpriced cars ever.

Jaguar XF - Rivals Offer So Much More

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A luxury sedan from a well-known automaker for $50,000 feels like a bargain but you are not seeing the whole picture. The price is the perfect match for the specs and performance of this vehicle - but it is a Jaguar.

Jaguars are ranked second from the bottom on the reliability index and are largely regarded to be high maintenance. Not only that, once your XF goes off the road for a repair, the parts are not only insanely expensive but are also difficult to source. The $50K price tag might be a good deal for collectors and enthusiasts but if you want this as your primary car, it is too overpriced, to say the least.

Fiat 500L - Ugly and Overpriced

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The 500L is a cheap car compared to the others in the segment. The $24,395 price tag seems justified. But that is only as long as the car is on the showroom floor. It is cheap but does not offer any value for money. The design is downright ugly and the visibility for the driver is the worst.

The problems don't end there. Aspects like ride quality, cabin comfort, seating luxury, and acceleration are severely compromised. Buying another car of this segment for a higher price would still be a better deal than falling for the low price of this car.

Cadillac Escalade - An Upjumped Tahoe

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The Escalade starts at $76,000 for the base trim without any optional extras. It is basically a Chevy Tahoe and those things cost $69,000 for the fully-loaded version. We are not sure what makes the Escalade worth that much but it is not a case of reasonable vehicle pricing at least.

The Escalade is regarded to be a luxury SUV and the Tahoe is more of a utilitarian vehicle. That might partly explain why this Caddy truck is so expensive. But unless you are the uber-rich type, the Tahoe is all that you need.

Smart Fortwo - A Four-Wheeled Motorcycle

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It has the size of a small motorcycle, a 0.9L engine, and little safety equipment. The fuel economy is also not something to be proud of and the thing still costs $25,000 for the base model. In short, you cannot carry any luggage more than a laptop and you can only have one passenger with you for $25,000.

The fact that you can get a 4-seater for that price (a car that actually looks and functions like a car) makes the Fortwo one of the most ridiculously overpriced cars available on the market right now.

Bajaj Qute - Not Even a Car

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Did you know a car can be overpriced even if it costs $3,800 brand new? For starters, it might not even be a car by most standards but it does have four tires and four doors. This thing is powered by a shame of an engine that has one cylinder and 20 horsepower at the crank.

There's no trunk, or air conditioning, or windows that can roll down. In the unfortunate event of a crash, the only thing between your legs and the thing you crash into is the thinnest sheet metal to ever be used in a car. Crash protection is something unheard of in the part of the world this thing comes from.